Video Roundup: Hoof it to Spokane for Elkfest 2014

As you may remember from last year, Elkfest and Gleason Fest are two hometown music festivals that I can’t help but feel “school spirit” for. With an old high school buddy, John Blakesley of Northwest Music Group, booking the bands and taking on the festivals with such enthusiasm. It’s hard not to feel like they are partly my babies too as we talk over the phone about which bands we know, which ones we want to know, and which ones we passionately want to share with Spokane.

“Elkfest, the venerable music gathering that takes over a significant amount of Browne’s Addition June 6–8, announced its lineup a few weeks ago, and it was a strong one. It even included local hero James Pants.

But they were saving the headliner announcement for last, and if you’ve already procured a copy of this week’s Inlander, you might have seen the ad. Now headlining the festival is Seattle’s technical rockers Minus the Bear.

The band, known for its mathematical take on indie rock, complete with wacky changes and the sort of time signatures music geeks will drool over, is touring sparingly this summer, including a couple shows celebrating the 10th anniversary of their quintessential EP They Make Beer Commercials Like This.

It’s a nice booking for Elkfest, which, believe it or not, is celebrating its own 10th anniversary this year. The festival is still free and still all ages.”